Lamp



D. A. HOLTER June 20, 1967 LAMP Filed Sept. 22, 1964 Fig.

I m 8 m Hm m 0 E H 2A 3 n W m M m 0 0 Y B M United States Patent 3,325,935 LAMP Donavan A. Holter, Havre Air Force Station, Monh, as-

signor of twenty-five percent to John P. McKenna, Cutbank, Mont.

Filed Sept. 22, 1964, Ser. No. 39%,99 Claims. (Cl. 40-10622) This invention relates to a portable self-standing lamp characterized by hollow base means supporting a conventional lamp bulb, a cooperating chimney and an encompassing oriented shade, and protectively containing a power operated fan generating a flow of air which passes upwardly by way of the chimney and causes an object to float directly above the shade and chimney in a captivating eye-appealing and mysterious manner.

The air-lifted and suspended object comprises a spherical globe or ball which is unique in that it is suitably fashioned and decorated to represent a satellite, the moon for example, in space. In carrying out this aspect of the concept a thin plastic hollow sphere or globe is interiorly frosted to render the same translucent, and when illuminated catches the eye of the observer and lends itself to practical use advertising and for other eye-attracting purposes.

To the ends desired, the bottom side of a suitable axial area or portion of the sphere or ball is provided with a built-in clearly transparent circular lens which not only admits the light rays into the hollow chamber but is relatively and amply heavy so that it functions to balance and maintain the sphere in a given floating or suspended viewing position.

The invention features a novel base embodying an up wardly opening pan-like tray supporting and confining a simple motor driven fan. The upwardly flowing air currents from the fan are tunneled through an open-bottom oriented upstanding transparent chimney which has its upper open end reduced in cross-section to concentrate the air and focus the discharging stream of air on the lens-equipped normal bottom of the sphere. Hence, when the fan is on the sphere floats above the level of the chimney and shade, respectively. Alternatively, when the fan is off the sphere gravitates and seats itself in a flared receiver at the top of the ornamental vase-like shade.

Further novelty resides in a concavo-convex canopy. This canopy is located at the bottom of the shade, hoods over the fan, provides a safety shield, and is so arranged and oriented relative to the tray and fan that it conceals the fan and contributes the element of mystery as to how the overall device lifts and lowers the sphere simply by turning the current on and off as the case may be.

Then, too, novelty is predicated on using the canopy or shield to support and hide a spider-type bracket which, in turn, carries the light bulb and its socket and which, in addition, has centralized annular channel-shaped rings or collars for coordinating and securing the lower ends of the chimney and shade, respectively, in their coacting positions for combinative use.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a view in perspective of a novelty lamp constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention and showing the manner in which the spheri cal globe or ball is suspended in its airborne position;

FIGURE 2 is a view based on FIGURE 1 and with the component parts enlarged and appearing in section and also in elevation and which shows, in phantom lines,

the manner in which the globe or ball comes to rest; and

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary View in side elevation showing a slight modification in the bottom portion of the globe or ball.

With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 and particularly FIG. 2, it will be seen that the portable self-standing base means comprises a circular open-top pan-like tray 6, which is made of suitable easily formable sheet material. The bottom of this tray is circular and flat as at 8 and the wall or rim is flared upwardly and outwardly as at 10. Appropriate rubber or equivalent legs 12, which may be in the form of suction cups, are attached to and depend from the bottom 8 at appropriate circumferentially spaced points. The numeral 14 denotes an appropriate electric motor which is centrally ositioned and attached to the central upper side of the bottom 8, said motor receiving current from an appropriately attached current conducting cord 16, the manner of attachment of which is not detailed. The shaft (not detailed) of the motor is attached to and rotates the inverted cup-like hub portion 2t) of a suitably constructed fan 22. The radial blades of the fan, which are attached to the hub, are denoted at 24. The top plan diameter of the fan 22 is proportional with the relatively larger receptacle portion of the tray to take in air in a manner denoted generally at 26. The base means also embodies a domical or concave-convex sheet material canopy 28 which constitutes a safety shield and accordingly hoods over the fan and is supported at its bottom marginal edge 39 by an openwork support unit 32 embodying vertical circumferentially spaced rod members 34. The rod members may be attached to the bottom of the tray and the lower edge 30 of the domical shield 28 in any suitable manner. The upper central portion of the shield is truncated to provide an appropriate circular opening 36. Fitted into the opening are channel-shaped adapter rings or collars. These collars are in concentric relationship and the outer collar is denoted at 38 and the inner complemental collar at 40.

The numeral 42 denotes generally a spider-like bracket having a central portion 44 and radial arms 4-6 which are appropriately afhxed to the underneath or concave side of the shield as denoted generally at 43. This bracket functions to support a conventional-type screw-threaded socket member 50 which in turn is provided with an attachable and detachable conventional source of illumination; namely, a lamp bulb 52.

The numeral 54 denotes a transparent chimney which is generally circular in cross-section and whose lower end portion 56 is fitted removably into the inner adapter collar 40 in the manner shown. The chimney encompasses the bulb and the upper end thereof extends above the bulb where it is gradually reduced in cross-section to provide a restricted neck 58. This feature serves to concentrate the outgoing air currents in an evident manner. Cooperating closely with the chimney is an ornamental vase-like component part herein referred to as a shade 60. This shade is of appropriate size to fit over and around the chimney. The lower neck-like end 62 is fitted removably in the channel of the adapter collar 38. The body portion is preferably, not not necessarily, provided with elongated slots or openings of appropriate shape as designated at 64. The upper end portion of the shade extends well above the chimney neck 58 where it is flared outwardly to provide a bell mouth 66 which in turn constitutes a socketlike receiver for the complemental liftable and lowerable airborne object 68, more specifically, a hollow plastic ball or sphere which is interiorly frosted (not detailed) and which is translucent and accordingly illuminable. The lower or central base portion '70 is provided with a fixed transparent lens 72. The lens is of appropriate weight, provides a counterbalance and functions in a manner to seat the ball in the bell mouth or socket-like receiver 66 (as shown in phamtom lines) when the fan 22 is not rotating. This lens also permits light rays from the lamp bulb to be admitted to the interior chamber of the ball or sphere to illuminate the same and to represent, if desired, an imitation moon or the like.

The numeral 74 (FIG. 1) denotes an appropriate ac cessible ofi? and on switch which serves, obviously, to turn the aforementioned motor 14 off and on and to thus con trol the operation of the fan 22 at will.

It is Within the purview ofthe inventive concept to control the functioning of the globe or ball 68 through the medium of the motor-driven fan 22. Assuming that the fan is not in operation it will be evident that the globe or ball 68 is normally seated in the bell mouth receiver or socket member 66 as suggested in phantom lines in FIG. 2. When the switch 74 is operated to bring the motor 14- into play the fan whirls around in a horizontal plane about a vertical axis and the blades 24 draw in air between the outer tip ends of the blades and the upstanding rim or wall It of the tray 6. The air is then propelled upwardly and is channeled or tunneled through the chimney 54 by way of the open spider-like bracket means 42 in an evident manner. By properly establishing the rate ofrotation of the fan and the consequent output of the airflow the upwardly moving air currents function to lift the ball from its seat 62 and cause it to float in a set position at approximately the elevation and point of alignment illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. With the lamp bulb coming on at the same time the light rays issuing through the neck 58 will impinge upon the lens 72 and will distributively fill the chamber of the ball and cause it to be suitably and attractively iiluminated. When the fan and light are turned off it will be evident that the ball comes down and seats itself in its normal but ready-to-function phantom line position. The globe or ball 68 is not intended to oscillate or rotate when constructed in the manner shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. It may be desirable, however, under certain conditions to not only lift and float the ball but to cause it to rotate slowly. This can be accomplished by modifying the ball, that is the base portion 71 in the manner illustrated in FIG. 3. This is to say the portion 71 just above the eye-like lens 72 may be provided with circumferentially spaced elongated indentations or pockets 76 which constitute impellers. The airstream impinging against these impellers will serve to turn the ball around its vertical axis.

It is submitted that the lamp herein disclosed is portable but self-standing and by using suction cups as legs 12 it will stay put when placed upon a support surface in the manner suggested in FIG. 2. The shield 28 constitutes not only a protector or guard but may be made non-transparent and in this manner it will conceal the fan and motor and will accordingly cause the observer, or observers, to bafile themselves in respect to how the overall device func- .tions in achieving the end results desired.

A lamp such as that herein shown, described and claimed lends itself to use in ones home but is especially suitable for use in a store window or similar place for purposes of attracting attention. Accordingly and by properly coloring the component parts and decorating the surfaces of the ball 68 the later can and will serve for advertising and similar eye-attracting purposes.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous rnodifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A lamp comprising a portable self-standing base, a source of illumination supported above and in alignment with said base, a chimney aligned with, supported by and above said base and enclosing said source of illumination,

a shade surrounding said chimney and having an upper end portion projecting to a predetermined level above the top of said chimney, said upper end of said shade being flared upwardly outwardly and providing a funnel-like receiver for seated reception and retention of a ball-like globe, a ball-like captive-type globe normally seated and held in said receiver, and a'power-operated blower fan mounted within the confines of said base in line with and in a plane below said source of illumination, and lower ends of said chimney and shade, respectively, said globe being proportional in size and weight with cooperating components of said shade and chimney, said globe being illuminable by light rays emanating from said source of illumination, said globe having a bottom portion provided with a transparent weighted lens permitting the passage of light rays therethrough into the interior of said globe, said globe being airborne by a stream of air which, when said fan is operating, is channeled upwardly through and by way of said chimney and is focused and impinges upon said weighted lens in a manner to float the globe in constant alignment with said funnel-like receiver.

2. A lamp comprising a portable self-standing base, a source of illumination supported above and in alignment with said base, a chimney aligned with, supported by and above said base and enclosing said source of illumination, a shade surrounding said chimney and having an upper end portion projecting to a predetermined level above the top of said chimney, said upper end of said shade being,

flared upwardly outwardly and providing a funnel-like receiver for seated reception and retention of a ball-like globe, a ball-like captive-type globe normally seated and held in said receiver, and a power-operated blower fan mounted within the confines of said base in line with and in a plane below said source of illumination and lower ends of said chimney and shade, respectively, said globe 'being proportional in size and weight with cooperating components of said shade and chimney, said globe being illuminable by light rays emanating [from said source of illumination, said globe being frosted on its interior and having a limited part-spherical bottom portion provided with a transparent lens which permits the passage of light rays therethrough into the interior of said globe, and said lens being weighted and of a degree of heaviness proportional to the overall weight of the globe to balance the globe and to keep it centered and floating in a given inspace position while the fan is operating and causing said globe to gravitate and seat and retain itself in said receiver when the fan stops.

3. The lamp defined in and according to claim 2, and wherein said base is self-standing and embodies a shallow upwardly opening pan-like tray and a shield mounted above the tray and shielding the fan, said shield being provided with spider means supporting the source of illumination and additional means supporting said chimney and shade, said shield being circular and concavo-convex and constituting a domical canopy.

4. The structure according to claim 3, and wherein said shield is suspended in a plane above the plane of the bottom of said tray, said tray being of a diameter in plan greater than the outside diameter of said shield, the periph eral wall of the tray being spaced radially outwardly of and in relation to the margin of said shield and providing an endless annular atmospheric air intake space.

5. A novelty-type lamp comprising: a relatively shallow upwardly opening circular pan-like tray providing a base, the bottom of said tray being flat and and imperforate and having depending suction cups on its underneath side providing supporting legs, a motor driven air circulating blower-type fan mounted for operation within the confines of the receptacle portion of said tray, 2. concavo-convex fan concealing shield supported by and above the bottom of said tray and hooding over the fan with its bottom marginal portion spaced from the tray bottom and encompassing wall of the tray to admit and take in air, a chimney attached to and rising above the axial top portion of said shield, a lamp bulb projecting upwardly into the hollow portion of said chimney, bracket means suspended by said shield and supporting said lamp bulb in its heating and lighting position, and a shade encompassing said chimney and also attached to and rising above the top portion of said shield, the upper end of said chimney being reduced in transverse cross-section and the upper end of said shade being flared upwardly and outwardly and extending to a predetermined level above the fixed level of the upper end of said chimney, the upper central portion of said shield being provided with a centralized opening marginally encompassed by concentric inner and outer annular adapter collars channel-shaped in cross-section with their channel portions opening upwardly, the lower ends of said chimney and shade being annular and fitting removably into their respective retaining channels, and, in combination, a hollow spherical globe, representing a suspended satellite, said globe being translucent and having a weighted transparent globe-centering and seating lens fixedly set in its bottom portion and adapted to line up with said chimney and shade, respectively, said flared end providing a funnel-like receiver and being in proportion to the bottom portion of said globe.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,761,802 6/1930 Sabath 40l06.22 1,788,058 1/1931 Jyumi 24010 1,856,098 5/1932 Green 240-10 1,960,562 5/1934 Webster 24010 X 2,745,947 5/ 1956 Sansous 24010 X 2,903,817 9/1959 McLain et a1. 40106.25 X 2,911,745 11/1959 Simon 40106,22 2,924,033 2/ 1960 Lanctot 40-10622 3,188,752 6/"1965 Skinner 24027 X FOREIGN PATENTS 607,355 12/ 1934 Germany. 526,761 9/ 1940 Great Britain.

20 LAWRENCE CHARLES, Primary Examiner.

HERBERT F. ROSS, Examiner. 

1. A LAMP COMPRISING A PORTABLE SELF-STANDING BASE, A SOURCE OF ILLUMINATION SUPPORTED ABOVE AND IN ALIGNMENT WITH SAID BASE, A CHIMNEY ALIGNED WITH, SUPPORTED BY AND ABOVE SAID BASE AND ENCLOSING SAID SOURCE OF ILLUMINATION, A SHADE SURROUNDING SAID CHIMNEY AND HAVING AN UPPER END PORTION PROJECTING TO A PREDETERMINED LEVEL ABOVE THE TOP OF SAID CHIMNEY, SAID UPPER END OF SAID SHADE BEING FLARED UPWARDLY OUTWARDLY AND PROVIDING A FUNNEL-LIKE RECEIVER FOR SEATED RECEPTION AND RETENTION OF A BALL-LIKE GLOBE, A BALL-LIKE CAPTIVE-TYPE GLOBE NORMALLY SEATED AND HELD IN SAID RECEIVER, AND A POWER-OPERATED BLOWER FAN MOUNTED WITHIN THE CONFINES OF SAID BASE IN LINE WITH AND IN A PLANE BELOW SAID SOURCE OF ILLUMINATION, AND LOWER ENDS OF SAID CHIMNEY AND SHADE, RESPECTIVELY, SAID GLOBE BEING PROPORTIONAL IN SIZE AND WEIGHT WITH COOPERATING COMPONENTS OF SAID SHADE AND CHIMNEY, SAID GLOBE BEING ILLUMINABLE BY LIGHT RAYS EMANATING FROM SAID SOURCE OF ILLUMINATION, SAID GLOBE HAVING A BOTTOM PORTION PROVIDED WITH A TRANSPARENT WEIGHTED LENS PERMITTING THE PASSAGE OF LIGHT RAYS THERETHROUGH INTO THE INTERIOR OF SAID GLOBE, SAID GLOBE BEING AIRBORNE BY A STREAM OF AIR WHICH, WHEN SAID FAN IS OPERATING, IS CHANNELED UPWARDLY THROUGH AND BY WAY OF SAID CHIMNEY AND IS FOCUSED AND IMPINGES UPON SAID WEIGHTED LENS IN A MANNER TO FLOAT THE GLOBE IN CONSTANT ALIGNMENT WITH SAID FUNNEL-LIKE RECEIVER. 